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Specialized, Open Source Databases?

Posted by Cliff on from the preventing-the-reinvention-of-the-wheel dept.

PyTHON71 asks: "I've been asked the head of the Wichita State University Anthropology department to help fix his growing biological anthropology collection database. It's currently in Access (insert boo's and hisses), but he is willing to have it developed in a reliable open source format. Now, there are a lot of university departments out there that need to have specialized work done on a small budget. They can't rely on just any developer, because the developer has to know biological anthropology (in this case) as well as MySQL, etc. And since it's not in the Hacker Code to duplicate work that's already been done, I was wondering what specialized database projects are out there & available for general use (not the data, just the structure)."

3 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. What about Access? by GTRacer · · Score: 3, Insightful
    While I don't have a great love of the "Evil Empire" that is MS, what's so bad about Access? It's certainly not perfect, but tell me what Windows-based alternatives exist that will:

    * Let me create front-end forms populated and controlled by code and query

    * Support relational tables, indexes, complex JOIN queries, aggregate functions, etc.

    * Design complex reports with page/section formatting and behind-the-scenes code controls

    * Can access ODBC data sources

    If you can show me the way, I'll take the first step! I'd love to cut some of the distribution costs here!

    GTRacer
    - Needs help with gcc + PS2...

    --
    Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
    1. Re:What about Access? by SLiK812 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The problem is Access's data storage is in a flat file format. Which means it'll be slower than dookie after it gets to be a certain size and complexity. Especially when sharing the database with many users. I'd suggest SQL Server, with a vb frontend or even an Access frontend with the SQL Server tables linked into Access.

      Unfortunately the question was pertaining to open source, probably because the owner of the data, doesn't want to drop a chunk of change on a major database. Yes Access comes with Windows, but the performance issue is too big.

  2. Re:SQLITE by ddriver · · Score: 3, Funny

    try www.sqlite.org

    Here is the licensing terms from source: /*
    ** 2001 September 15
    **
    ** The author disclaims copyright to this source code. In place of
    ** a legal notice, here is a blessing:
    **
    ** May you do good and not evil.
    ** May you find forgiveness for yourself and forgive others.
    ** May you share freely, never taking more than you give.
    **

    Dude I so dig that!

    --
    I found my inner child, then I got caught abusing it...